Christi D. Tekell

Christi DiAnn Tekell, 66, passed away at Groesbeck LTC in Groesbeck, Texas on February 9, 2025. Christi was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014 and has lived with the disease until now. Now, we know that she is in heaven with her savior Jesus Christ, her husband Craig Tekell, her brother Johnny Bill, her nephew Marty Yates, her in-laws Don and June Tekell, and other family and friends who welcomed her with open arms, oh what a happy day and celebration that must have been in heaven.
Christi was born on May 29, 1958, in Bryan, Texas to Doris Wahlenmeier and Robert McKinney. Christi was raised in Corsicana and graduated from Corsicana High School in 1976 and then attended Baylor University. There she received her bachelor's degree in education and then her master's degree also in Education in 1984. Christi married her high-school sweetheart, Craig Tekell, in this very building at First Baptist Church in Corsicana, Texas on July 11, 1981. Christi and Craig have two children, Tyler Tekell and Ashley Parker.
Christi was a strong believer in Christ and always strove to follow and teach others about Him. She felt called to make an impact on others' lives whether that was in her Sunday School class at First Baptist Church or during her years as a schoolteacher. Christi primarily taught fifth grade science for 20+ years and was famous for her back scratches (if you were one of her students, you know what we are talking about). If you volunteered to read in her class, she would scratch your back while you read...not sure if we ever remembered what we just read because it was so relaxing, but everyone always wanted her back scratches. Christi was a loving, kind, spirited, and faithful wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend. She enjoyed being with her children whether that involved shopping trips to NorthPark Mall, staying up late watching Texas Rangers baseball games, or being the getaway driver for Tyler and Ashley and their friends after they toilet-papered another friend's house. Christi had a love for many things here on Earth, to list a few include golden retrievers, skiing, Christmas, Dr. Pepper, and most importantly, her friends and family.
Christi's passion was being a mom and a teacher. She taught her children and others how to be strong followers of Christ and how to be faithful and trusting during difficult times such as these. We may not understand or know the reason as to why Christi had to leave us so soon, but we can be at peace knowing that she is in heaven where there is no suffering, no sadness, and no pain; she is home, she is whole again. We will miss her, but this is not goodbye, it's see-you later.
We want to thank all of the family, friends, and caretakers my mom had over the years who helped her and us through these difficult years. You all are truly appreciated.
Christi is survived by her mother, Doris Wahlenmeier, sister Brenda Sherrill and her husband Robert Sherrill, son Tyler Tekell and wife Lacey Tekell and their son Jack with another child on the way, daughter Ashley Parker and husband Mason Parker and their two daughters Karsyn and Kamryn, nephew Jeff Yates and wife Jill Yates and their two daughters Sydney and Sadey, great-nephew Marty Yates and his wife Loni Yates and their daughter Miley, brother-in-law Keith Tekell and wife Donna Tekell, brother-in-law Victor Tekell and wife Gabrielle Tekell, niece Courtney Brogdon and husband Jourdan Brogdon, niece Kristen Boyd and husband Shawn Boyd, nephew Jonathan Tekell and wife Jillian Tekell, nephew Christian Tekell and wife Kelsey Tekell, niece Hayley Nieto and husband Nick Nieto, niece Emily Tekell, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Christi is preceded in death by her father, Robert McKinney, husband Craig Tekell, nephew Marty Yates, father-in-law Don Tekell, mother-in-law June Tekell.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 13th from 1:00pm - 2:00pm at First Baptist Church with the Funeral Services will follow at 2:00pm. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tyler Tekell, Mason Parker, Jeff Yates, Marty Yates, Aaron Bland and Brent Duren.